48 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



trout will let a fly pass him, then turn and follow it down 

 stream, and even if the fish does not then take the fly he 

 would be scared by your lifting it too soon. That's better : 

 now look out ! Strike ! You were too late, and too forcible. 

 It only requires a turn of the wrist to hook the fish so long 

 as your line is straight. Now just wait a minute and give 

 him a rest while you listen to me. The "strike" depends 

 a great deal on a person's temperament. Some men are 

 always slow, and others very quick. It is exactly the same 

 in raising a gun when shooting ; both actions become intuitive 

 after a time, though there is always the personal equation 

 which dominates the rapidity of the individual action. Striking 

 will become second nature after much experience, but the 

 health and condition of the mind and body will always affect 

 even the most experienced fisherman. Careful attention and a 

 straight line are the best conditions to warrant success, and 

 a healthy, alert, nervous temperament the best factor to 

 insure it, but you must not expect to be proficient in striking 

 until you have had more practice. 



You must give your absolute and undivided attention to 

 your floating fly. Every angler knows how many chances 

 of striking a good fish have been lost by a momentary lapse 

 from this vigil. The one rise of a heavy fish at your fly 

 may be missed, and the fly rejected, during the momentary 

 glance aside at the opalescent gleam of a king-fisher, the 

 metallic brilliance of a dragon fly, a cluster of wild roses, 

 or at any of the thousand delights of the trout stream. 



